By Orin
DavidsonMay 19th, 2009
The countdown for Team New York’s defense of its United States
Under-19 cricket title got underway Friday evening at an official
team function where the players were exhorted to win it for the
third straight year.

Hat-trick was on the minds of impromptu speakers
who delivered pep talks of varying intensity at the Naresa Palace
restaurant and lounge.

The
New York Under-19 team and officials decked out in blazers
at Naresa Palaace on Friday evening.

The Gregory
Sewdial led New York squad will be under pressure to create history
by pulling off the first hat-trick in the competition’s history,
after title triumphs in 2007 and 2008, but for the most part the
squad seemed unaffected by all the hype.

Sewdial said they are happy to be the first team
to play in the competition at home in New York and are looking forward
to upholding the rich tradition this city has developed in cricket
over the years.

Coach Linden Fraser said he would’ve like
to have his team engage in more practice matches but the weather
and unavailability of some players restricted them to just one,
which they duly won two weeks ago.

Among the team supporters present on Friday were
former national junior players Andre Kirton and Romano Dean who
were part of the first United States under-19 team that contested
the ICC World Cup in 2006 in Sri Lanka.

Former New York regional director Clifford Hinds
check-listed the conditions under which the players will undertake
the four-day competition. They will assemble with the visiting teams
at the Ramada Hotel from Thursday. Prominent New York cricket personality
Roy Sweeney and Sham Ali, the longstanding player/administrator
of the Metropolitan League were among the lot invited to give words
of advice to the squad Friday evening.

Once again the U.S. players will be decked out in
blazers bought by themselves. They were also presented with contracts
– an unprecedented act of professionalism for U.S. national
teams.

Eight teams, with four each from the Eastern and
Western conferences respectively will contest the series, comprising
playoffs to determine the eventual champion team .New York, Florida/Georgia,
New Jersey/Washington (Atlantic) and Connecticut/Massachusetts make
up the Eastern Conference.
Northern California (West Coast North) South California (West Coast
South), Texas/Louisiana ( Central West) and Michigan/Ohio (Central
East) are in the Western Conference.
New York will open its campaign against Connecticut (North East
Region) on Friday from 10.30, after an opening ceremony at Gateway
Park – one of three venues to be used. On Saturday they take
on Florida at the 108 Street Park in Brooklyn and New Jersey on
Sunday at Gateway.